Review: The Witch (2016)

It’s 17th century New England and a deeply religious, tight-knit family must build a lonely farm in the middle of nowhere when they are banished from the Puritan plantation. Things get creepy when their newest addition to the family (baby Samuel) goes missing. There’s something in the woods and it’s not giving off a friendly vibe.

The Witch feels like quite an original movie from the beginning, introducing itself as a New England folklore tale with unnervingly personal close-ups and the bleak, pale visuals.

When the family left their colonial plantation and set up a new homestead in a remote landscape on the edge of a dark wooded area I immediately started to fear for them. But I wasn’t being pummelled and numbed with a binge-fest of jump scares, instead I found myself slowly dragged into the depths of the narrative.

There’s an exceptionally chilling musical score composed of high-pitched screeching strings and shrieking tones. There’s unsettling angular shots of jagged features and candle-lit close-ups of suspicious expressions. There’s some nightmarish flashes of satanic-like imagery (black crows, a whispering goat and one hell of a creepy, stalkerish rabbit), and moments of fairytale-like horror. Gradually, we’re lured into tragic chaos when the God-fearing family begins to fall apart.

The thespians?
Ralph Ineson brings a stony, hard-worn characterisation of a desperate father and husband, with his rough and rusty vocal tones matching the rugged landscape. There’s a scene in which Ineson’s character finally comes to realise his own sins and his own mistakes, and gives a really raw emotional performance. Kate Dickie gives a flawless performance as usual, and I think we’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of the young Anya Taylor-Joy.

Lastly
Throughout this movie, the first time feature director and writer Robert Eggers is toying with various themes and symbols that we’re familiar with, but the movie is not trying to terrify us with the premise of a witch living in the woods killing people. The movie is so disturbing because it’s a subtly orchestrated representation of the disaster and horror that can unfold when a devout family becomes engulfed by their fears of sin. Is it really witchcraft and black magic that destroys the family, or is it their own obsessions and repressions?

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36 thoughts on “Review: The Witch (2016)”

Just watched this movie last night and I was very impressed. Kind of a slow burn and most folks looking for a “horror” film may be disappointed, it doesn’t provide the mindless jump scare tactics most horror films employ. Unfortunately that’s what makes that genre so appealing to the masses. I’d much rather enjoy Kubrick’s The Shining’ or even Shyamalan’s Sixth Sense. I definitely put this film under my own category of cerebral horror.

I know. I’m double taking in the house when it’s dark. I’ll be avoiding woods and forests for a while too. That ‘seduction’ scene with the young boy (I’m trying to be discreet so I don’t come out with a spoiler) is creepy as hell.

Yeah it’s because my blog is on Blogger not WP – but had to add something to register. Deleted it now, Witch (see what I did) means the link has gone. When you click Gravatar it should show my actual site: http://www.writeoutofla.com And my new Avatar!!

The script is based on actual 17th century accounts of people who believed they witnessed witchcraft, and the language and dialogue is deliberately tailored to 17th century speech patterns. This is a major achievement not just in movies but in historical recreation. Best horror film of the 21st century so far in my opinion.

Great review and I can understand the comments above and see how people would be impressed by the filmmaking here on such a low budget. Indeed, the director deserves a lot of praise for carving out a creepy and original horror film.

However, despite the style and atmosphere and terrific first 30 minutes I eventually felt really bored with this one. The story dragged, the characters made illogical decisions and by the end it made very little narrative sense. Of course, it works on a surreal and many symbolic levels of a girl moving to womanhood and a greater power cursing a family unit, but I just didn’t find it scary.

I think sometimes certain material just doesn’t connect. Perhaps I need a re-watch as I can see why many people really enjoyed it. I usually love horror films but not this one.

Thankyou Paul! You know, I actually do understand where you’re coming from. I can see how you’d find that the narrative loses its way about towards the final act. I had similar feelings, but I think that worked well to a degree because the unhinged, chaotic style of the narrative mirrors the irrational and tumultuous mindframe and actions of the characters as the family starts to fall apart. It really shows that they are absolutely engulfed by their extreme fear of witchcraft and the realisation of their sins.

However, you can dress something up with “representations” and “symbolism” etc, some movies are just not for everyone! I definitely see where you’re coming from, and have read a few reviews/reactions that agree with you.

I was so impressed with this film. It blew my expectations. It’s a much different horror experience. The slow family descent into madness, and the boiling terror just out in the woods. I also loved the attention to detail specifically in the aesthetic. And the mood and tone were spot on. Really good one.

I loved how the movie played more on horrors that arise from human relationships and bad faith than bad spirits. Very complex but easy to love as well 🙂 Loved how you mentioned the god-fearing and repressed aspect :)) This is probably still my favourite film of the year, check out my review if you can! Nice one Laura!